Greek Islands: Local’s Guide To Island-Hopping Greece

Written by our local expert Gabi

Gabi is an award-winning writer who lives on the Island of Crete in Greece. She is an expert in Greek travel and writes guides for the everyday traveler.

Although most of us close our eyes and dream about the enchanting images of white Santorini, there are so many more Greek islands to choose from that you never know exactly where to start island-hopping in Greece..or where to finish!

So, please let me help you island-hop Greece like a local, using my own travel experience of living in Greece for many years. 

There is nothing more magical, romantic, and adventurous than boarding a Greek ferry and sailing the sea to explore the beautiful beaches of Greece. The Greek islands are blessed with stunning landscapes and feel like an authentic slice of paradise.

You must first know that the Greek islands are divided into different island groups. As well as that, some islands are extremely popular among Greek island-hopping tourists, while others, equally enchanting, are almost unknown and offer a great vacation spot for those looking for less crowded places… which often come with much lower price tags too!

So, let’s get started and show you the best way to island hop in Greece;

The Greek Islands Groups

Let’s take a look at the islands of Greece and what groups they belong to.

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Ferry Routes To The Most Popular Greek Islands 

When planning those unforgettable Greek island-hopping adventures, deciding where to go first or how long to stay is a decision that will be subject to the Greek islands’ ferry routes, ferry schedules, and your Greek budget.

Are you ready to start planning your Greek island-hopping vacation? Let’s go! This article gives you a sweeping panorama of how to island-hop in Greece. But, first things first, are you starting on the mainland? If so read this section:

From Athens To The Main Greek Islands

Athens, the capital of Greece, offers access to all the islands, either by plane or by ferry routes to the Greek islands. Popular islands, including Rhodes, Corfu, Crete, Mykonos, and Santorini, can be reached by flying out from Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport.

Athens Ferry Ports

It’s also a popular choice to travel by sea. You can reach most Greek islands from the main Port of Piraeus, about 30 minutes from the center of Athens. However, it would help if you also kept in mind that there are other ports from which you can depart, too. Lavrio and Rafina are two smaller island ports in Athens with regular ferry services to different Greek islands.

• From Lavrio: you can reach the islands of Chios, Lemnos, Andros, Folegandros, Ios, Kea, Kimolos, Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Sikinos, Syros, and Tinos.
• From Rafina: instead, it’s possible to visit the islands of Crete, Andros, Folegandros, Ios, Amorgos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros, Tinos, and Santorini.

You can choose between fast ferries to the Greek islands that carry boat cargo on this route. These are ideal if you want to take a rented car or motorbike with you. 

Corfu To Santorini, Crete, And Mykonos

There are no direct flights from Corfu to Santorini, Mykonos, or Crete. Therefore, if flying is a must, the best way to get there is to fly to Athens and then take another flight to the island of your choice.

Other alternatives include taking the ferry from Corfu to the mainland and, from there, boarding a bus to Athens. Once in the capital, you can choose either a ferry or a plane to reach Crete, Santorini, or Mykonos.

Another alternative is to reach Larissa from Corfu and take a train trip to Athens.

Crete To Santorini

There are no direct flights from Crete to Santorini, but a ferry route connects both islands during the high season with at least 2-3 daily ferry crossings.

The ferry times between these Greek islands range between 2 and 4 hours, depending on whether you take a fast or regular ferry. The cost of the ferry trip between Heraklion and Santorini is about 50 euros, and it can be a great day trip if you’re staying in Crete. This is one of the most popular ferry travel routes on the Greek islands.

Rhodes To Crete

The trip from Rhodes to Crete can be quite long on a ferry. That’s why most travelers choose to fly from Heraklion, Crete’s capital. The flying time is about 50 minutes, and prices tend to be considerably high, so booking in advance is a good idea.

The ferry route connecting Rhodes to Crete is covered by the sailing company Aegeon Pelagos. There are four weekly connections and the traveling times range between 11 and 15 hours.

It’s possible to board the ferry with a car, a motorbike, or a camper van. Since it’s such a long trip, the vessel offers facilities, including restaurants, bars, and shops, to make the journey more pleasant.

Mykonos To Santorini

The only way to travel between Mykonos and Santorini is by boarding a ferry since no direct flights connect the Aegean Islands.

You can save some money traveling with regular service (about 4 hours), pay more, and cut off your traveling time by at least two good hours.

Since this is probably the most famous sea route during summer, it’s a better idea to book your ferry tickets well in advance – we suggest Ferryhopper for that here. The trip from Mykonos to Santorini is among the best Greek island hopping experiences you can have.

Book your Santorini Day Trip From Mykonos here

Naxos, Paros, Ios To Santorini

The three islands are connected by ferry routes all year round, with a considerable increase in services during the high season.

The best way to travel among these islands is by boarding a fast ferry. The ferry travel times between these Greek islands vary from 2 hours to 45 minutes (Paros-Naxos).

The three islands can also make an excellent escape from the bustle of Santorini and are the perfect destination for a one-day trip or a weekend away.

Rhodes To Santorini, Mykonos, And Other Cyclades

The best way to travel between the Greek Cycladic Islands and Rhodes is by boarding a ferry to Athens and, from there, boarding another ferry to any of the Cyclades Islands (or Rhodes).

It’s not common to find ferries departing from Rhodes with a stop on the Cyclades, but if you manage to book a vessel making a stop either in Naxos or Paros, it would unquestionably be a winning choice. Check with your ferry operator to find the best Greek island-hopping route for your trip.

Italy To Greece

As we mentioned in this post about traveling from Italy to Greece, there are comfortable ways to connect both countries by plane or ferry. Ferries depart from Italy’s main ports, and it’s possible to board most vessels with a rental car or a motorbike.

Some of the ports are Bari, Ancona, and Venice, and they usually connect Italy to the Greek ports in the Ionian Sea, including Corfu, Igoumenitsa, and Patras.

Of course, routes (and prices) increase during the high season, which in Europe goes from June to September.

Which Greek Islands Have Airports

Let’s go island-by-island.

What Greek Islands Have Domestic Airports

• Chios Island
• Ikaria Island
• Kalymnos Island
• Kythira Island
• Milos Island
• Naxos Island
• Paros Island
• Skyros Island
• Syros Island

What Greek Islands Have International Airports

• Astypalea Island
• Corfu Island
• Crete Island
• Karpathos
• Kefalonia Island
• Kos Island
• Lemnos Island
• Lesvos Island
• Milos Island
• Rhodes Island
• Samos Island
• Santorini Island
• Skiathos Island
• Zakynthos

Best Greek Islands For Island-hopping

Deciding which Greek islands to include in your Greek island-hopping itinerary can be difficult. It depends on what activities you love doing and how you prefer to spend your vacation time.

Do you love sunbathing and swimming on sandy beaches? Do you dream of soaking in the whitewashed landscapes of Greece? Are you eager to climb mountains and fill your trip with incredible adventures? Do you want epic Greek nightlife?

There’s an island for every taste and every traveler… People usually choose to visit the most popular places either because they heard about them or because some other travelers suggested so.

People often flock to places such as Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu, Hydra, and Crete, for the best beaches, totally unaware there are hundreds of other islands worth visiting in Greece.

If you’re visiting Greece for the first time and eager to discover some of the best islands, the best thing to do is travel around on a ferry. You can get to even some of the less-visited islands with ease.As you can see above, tons of ferries connect the Greece islands, making it super easy to have an unforgettable Greece island-hopping experience.

This is not only the most good option when it comes to ticket prices, but it is also the favorite way to travel for locals. You will immerse yourself in the right atmosphere that will set the pace for a relaxing trip.

One of the best Greek island-hopping tips we can give you is: don’t run against the clock. The most enjoyable way to visit Greece and the islands is to take one place at a time and enjoy it to the fullest. When it comes to island-hopping the Greek Islands, I think that less is definitely more.

We hope that island-hopping Greece has been made easier with this guide on planning a Greek island-hopping holiday adventure.